No 'Stand your ground' bill vote this week

COLUMBUS - Republicans won't vote on a bill to expand gun rights, often called "stand your ground," this week after all.

Speaker Ryan Smith, R-Gallia County, had said he expected a vote Wednesday on the proposed law to allow gun owners to "stand their ground" when threatened in public. He even suggested GOP lawmakers had the votes to override Gov. John Kasich if he vetoed the bill.

Now House Republicans don't expect a vote on the gun bill this week. Lawmakers are not being asked which way they will vote, a common practice before putting a proposal on the House floor.

What happened? It's not clear. The House is expected to vote on a couple dozen bills Wednesday in their final meeting before a summer break. GOP lawmakers could still meet in the fall to pass the "stand your ground" bill before the November election.

Prosecutors say the bill would make it harder to charge a gun owner for shooting someone. Under the proposed changes, the prosecutor would have to prove the shooter was not acting in self-defense. Ohio is the only state that requires the accused to prove he or she acted in self-defense.

Also not on the list of bills up for a vote: Kasich's package of ideas to curb gun-related violence. Smith had said proposed changes were causing "consternation" among GOP lawmakers concerned about taking guns away from people unnecessarily.